Now that all of the experts with their sophisticated equipments have had a shot at predicting what kind of winter we will have it's our turn. We decided to poll those who always have an opinion - locals and old timers. We even asked the tourists. After all, they are always asking us. Good news! The results are unanimous; it will be a heavy winter and here are the twenty best reasons why:

Dogs are burying their bones deeper

The tourists left early.

Squirrels are nesting in houses.

Snowmobiles are starting by themselves.

Spiders are growing fur.

Ski Homewood bought a snow-maker.

Snow cross melted off of Tallac by Memorial Day.

Your winter wear is ugly and out of style.

The Gamet's are building a new house - "Last time, '82."

Lots of wooly caterpillars.

Cats are growing thicker fur.

The Farmer's Almanac.

Hurricanes in Florida and Hawaii - "Same as '82."

El Nino - '82 - '92.

Excessive amount of mice.

Woodpeckers are making nests higher in trees.

Law of averages.

New Zealand weather pattern is the same as ours. They had a heavy winter.

Trees changed colors
early.

Early pine cone drop.

If it turns out that we have another year of drought, we can assume that these indicators were correct - just the conclusion was wrong. Or, you may answer the questions as I did, "ask me again next May."